The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-11-18

the two was S55, 900.
WAS 1T INCENDTARY?
But for a little circumstance that occur
red while the fire was mt its liercest the
only supposition OF its origin would have
been by means OF match unwittingly ig-
nited, or some other simple cause. A
commoton was seen at the west entrance
OF No. | shed by those in the vicinity, and
q rush was made TO learn the cause. 4
coatless young white man, angry and pro-
testing his ability 10 clean out any one
who chose to fight him, emerged, driven
from the scene by Patrolman John Doherty.
Soon a compress employee named Enright
appeared, and informed the officer that
the man had stationed himself at
the entrance Just south of the
main one which he had Just
left, and refused TO stir unless il was to-
ward the interior. The obstinate indi-
vidual's actions had been of such char
acter that he was suspiconcd OF being the
originator OF the fire Even the intima-
ton OF this dastaIdly business on his part
caused a thrill OF horror and dismay 10
creep over the frames OF those who heard
il, and Officer Doherty moved toward the
spot where he was said 10 be on dead
run. lie caught his man and conveyed
him 10 the station-houso.
From Mr.. Enright IL was learned
that the suspected individuals name was
Walter Mendcnhall, and that he had
given both the alarms OF fire. The fellow
had been caught in the center Of the large
shed east Of the railroad tracks, in the
midst Of the cotton, with lighted lantern
under his coat. Asked what he was doing
there, he replied that Inc was performing
his duties rs Waterman. Ii he had been
employed to serve in that capacity, not
one Of the attaches on hand during the
fire knew of the fact. 'lle IL fireman,
said Mr.. Enright, "and had been in the
employ of the company on four or five
occasions previously, but each time was
discharged. At present he * u fireman ON
railroad locomotive. Several times this
| evening my attention has been riyctcd
upon him lettering about here, and in
every ease some act Of his aroused my sus-
| piciun. The last time ! surprised him
he was in a very suspicious attitude,
and my conviction is that lac
has brought ON all this destruction.
| Another thing which doesn't look eX-
| actly right, is that lac should have first
discovered the fire, which in both eases
originated in the middle OF acompact lot of
cotton. and where least liable and hardest
! 20 qucnch We have had several small
! fires around here lately, AMI, In fact, they
! had become so numerous that imperative
instructions had been issued against even
! the CARRYING Of matches about the premises.
| II is serious charge TO lodge against u
man, but IL doesn't look altogether
lovely for Mendenhall" After this semi
! charge Of inccndiarism had bccn made
! by Mr.. Enright against Mcndcnhall. one
/ young man in the crowd Of employees
stated that lac had seen the accused actu-
ally applying fire to u bale OF cotton. Tx
element and Indignation ran up Ia fever
heat among the crowd. who caught the
grave accusation, and sentiment init
mating lynching was boldly spoken. Men
donhall had been taken 30 the station
house, and thus an effort 10 execute the
threat was prevented.
RuNorrD loss o. Lirr.
"S0mc one told me Just now that the
fireman OF the engine for press No. was
burned 10 death, said gentleman Ia nm
APPEAL reporter about O'Clock, and just
rs be- was leaving the scene Ol the conila-
grafton. No one was found who could
verify the report, nut rs investigation
progressed the number ~ losses in this
line Increased tO two. One OF them was
said To bo the colonel fireman, named
John james. lie WIS said Ia have taken
refuge from the fire between lot II cotton,
and when he saw the flight WIS necessary.
found q wall Of fame between him and
every entrance. The other victims name
could no, bc learned. Ncithcrof the cases
reported ven a certainty 40 they arr only
given - rather remote possibilities.
TnE LOSSES.
The los sustained by last nights fire
was not, happily. by local insur-
ancc companies. Not dollar OF risks
was held by them. Thcnggwgiic amount
will doubtless loot up eSD1.ODO, the hcavi-
csl ever inflicted upon this city 10y one
visitation. There were l3,222 bales OF
cotton consumed, averaged at $50 per
bale. which makes q total OF sG1l, 100.
Added 10 this am the two congresses,
which together cust $4,000; hfy freight
cars and flats, estimated ut something like
s3j,O 900, anil the sheds, worth probably
$1,000 Besides these heavy items thgrg
was large lot Of fine machinery, suchsa'
engines, boilers running gear etc, 90,
the value Of which cannot be- approx
mated ~ this writing. II j. very likely
that SSH. OO0 Is too small an estimate b,
several thousand dollars.
TiiE INSURANCE.
As previously stated, Memphis insur
ancc companies have grat reason ~ ~
ioirc over the result ol the coin@iranc,
clause inserted by them in cotton policies
This WIS unaltcrably opposed by the lat'
Col. N. 4. Montgomery, superintendent
(. and general manager Of the compress com
pany, aud he carried this opposition &
such an extent that not a single policy VA
taken out with local companies. Most o
! Il went to New Orleans companies nm,
! agencies, others 10 81. Louis, aud still 9th
! ems 20 New York. II Is san
] that the Mutual Life Insurance
, company, VI the latter city, CARRIE
/ risks 10 the amount Of $4,000. tn
: main loss falls upon Crescent City con
! panics aud agencies IN that city Tor Lon
: don aud other forcign companies. Mcm
: phis does not escape, however, and g.
I another reason, sustaining about ono-thir
| the entire loss, or about s2j00O TIL
! compress company, which i composed &
a the cotton factors II the city M htocl
, holders, fully inmnrs cotton Ia It's owner
= while IN their charge. To offset this, the
I insurance with these foreign Compaui,
!, will cover about two.ihirds Of the los,
J. thus leaving onc-thirl TO be made goo
by them.
4 LIVELY srFEHtNTrNpKNr.
n Ono ol the most conspicuous figure
i about the fire, and yet one OF 4 be- hurdo'
d 10 catch aud corner, was the n'Yly clcctc
p, superintendent aud general manager
r sluncy X. Montgomery. Protected frOi
n water by large rubber coat, he move
: from place 10 place on dead run. III
Z. small army Of employees were ~ statione
a and instructed that every point Of th
a company's property not ON lire was full
4 urntacird. IA VIVA lnruCly the result